Jimly Asshiddiqie, head of the Police Reform Acceleration Commission (KPRP), said the decision followed the submission of reform recommendations to the president at the Merdeka Palace on Tuesday.
“The president decided the posts police may hold outside the institution must be defined limitatively, similar to the military law,” Jimly told reporters in Jakarta.
He said the rule will specify which external positions are permitted, addressing the current lack of clear limits on roles police officers can hold outside the force.
The provisions will be included in a government regulation or law being prepared by ministries under the coordinating ministry for legal and human rights affairs, he added.
Jimly said the president also approved strengthening the National Police Commission with more effective authority, binding recommendations and more independent membership.
The changes will be included in a planned revision of the police law to be discussed with parliament.
KPRP also reported differing views on the mechanism for appointing the national police chief, Jimly said.
After deliberation, the president decided to retain the current system, where the police chief is appointed by the president with parliamentary approval.
“The president decided to keep the existing mechanism, which applies to both the police chief and the military commander,” he said.
Jimly said the commission did not recommend creating a new security ministry to oversee the police.
He said the study found the potential drawbacks outweighed the benefits of establishing such a ministry.
“The president agreed the disadvantages are greater, so the proposal was not pursued,” he said.
He stressed the commission’s focus is strengthening police reform through regulatory revisions and internal improvements rather than creating new institutions.
The commission proposed revising the police law, to be followed by implementing regulations and presidential instructions to ensure reforms are carried out effectively, Jimly said.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman/Maria Cicilia, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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